And Facing Today

Tseng and Elena are still on my mind; the forgotten city had been quiet when I found them, but it had still been hard to hear their breath. Undoubtedly Kadaj and his gang will head back here soon... I fear what he is, and what he will do. I’ve heard rumors that they have great interest in the children infected by Geostigma... by Jenova.

I often wonder how life would’ve differed if Jenova had never came to this planet... Would life had been the same? Would I have been turned to a monster? Would ShinRa rise to power? Did Jenova affect us to the point that she determined our fate, and our future?

It is a question I’d rather leave unanswered.

I do not believe anyone wants to even imagine something is capable of that much power, of that much influence. Or perhaps that’s the reason why Jenova became experimented upon... humans are greedy by nature, and perhaps ShinRa hoped to harness her power, her influence on nature and life.

Of course, she was never truly understood, her power and her influence. It was too much for them to handle, that much is obvious.

Jenova may have very well brought us deeper into hell, but I’m sure humans themselves were capable of going there in the first place.

I am curious, though, as to what Kadaj is... he's dangerous, and obviously deeply tied to both Jenova and Sephiroth...as are his... 'brothers'.

...the boy is in trouble...

My eyes raise as Chaos chuckles in my head; nuisance, really, but helpful at times.

In my deep thoughts I had not heard the barely perceptible gunshots echoing through the forest...

Undoubtedly Cloud is not ready to fight yet; he hasn’t been ready for a while, I believe. I should’ve been prepared for the day that something like Kadaj would show up. I should’ve prepared him, but then he just would’ve lived in a world of paranoia and despair.

I see no reason to bring that upon him when I myself know what it is like.

I dash through the forest quickly, the crystal trees blending together as the gunshots become more pronounced.

It’s slightly disturbing stumbling across a battle with dozens of children standing by watching unperturbed.

So the rumors were true then... Kadaj has done something to them... evil as his 'mother'.

And there is Cloud, caught in a dance of blades with Kadaj himself; Yazoo and Loz looking confident enough watching their leader battle Cloud alone. Of course they would; Cloud’s a shell, practically dead inside. One can tell just by glimpsing at his eyes...though I see a flare of vengeance perhaps...but it dies quickly, almost as if he’s content to be killed here. Content to die...what has possessed him?

I did not know he had fallen so far.

I wonder if Tifa has realized his decline...

He will not win this.

I raise my gun easily, and aim with precision. Chaos chuckles again; he finds life threatening situations of my comrades amusing...I had forgotten.

I fire once; it is enough to knock Kadaj’s blade astray...enough time to distract the three, and enough time to dodge through the bullets and grab Cloud. As my hand hooks onto his shoulders I'm not sure Cloud realizes what is happening, nor if he cares.

It will be a long night indeed.

---

Cloud sits by the bank rubbing his arm. I can smell the decay Geostigma has inflicted on his left arm from here, even with no wind. It is a severe case. That must’ve contributed to his despair significantly, but I still do not see how he has fallen this far.

I expect him to say something, really...surely he must be curious why I’m here in the forgotten city. I wonder if he has heard of Tseng and Elena’s kidnaping, or whether he even cares. With recent events Rufus is involved...he has to be.

Even from here I can see that his eyes are empty, hollow with a sadness I cannot remember seeing...

Maybe something akin to that when Aeris passed...but this is much more raw, and he still says nothing.

I’m not usually one to instigate a conversation...but obviously he's being more stubborn than usual.

“I come here often... I’ve seen what Kadaj’s group is doing.”

Cloud does not even acknowledge my words. Why is he so lost? What has caused this? Surely the Geostigma alone is not enough...

Something else, then...

But he is not willing to speak...I shall have to force it from him.

I move quickly, reaching out and grabbing his left arm.

He winces, his eyes lost for a moment as he tries to look at me; he's undoubtedly lost behind a haze of Geostigma. I tighten my grip.

“The stigma... it’s a symptom of alien matter infesting the body,” I release his arm, “The body tries to eliminate it and over compensates.”

He swallows thickly, rubbing his arm.

“Inside our bodies is a current like the life stream. That current is what fights off any malevolent intruders.”

Still he says nothing, his head lowering.

Does he really need that much prompting? Of course, malevolent intruders, he must be familiar with that by now... He probably is aware that it is the Sephiroth gene.

What will gain reaction? Perhaps the involvement of the Turks...

“Tseng and Elena... they were brought here half dead. They must’ve been brutally tortured. I did what I could for them...but we’ll see.”

Cloud flinches; his first voluntary reaction. His eyes are more glazed, focusing on the water before him.

“Tortured...” he says softly.

“They had it coming. They got their hands on a piece of Jenova’s head. If they wanted to, they could recreate Sephiroth.”

He turns his head slightly in my direction, but still the reaction I expect from him, does not come. His anger should've flared at that comment, or at least he should've been interested.

Something is terribly wrong.

I raise my head slightly, studying him, “Cloud... what’s happened?”

Cloud’s eyes dart around slightly as he shifts, leaning forward. There is hesitation to his body, a certain tension there that is strung taught and ready to snap.

“I...”

There’s a sudden rustle in the bushes, and even as Cloud springs to his feet to defend himself, he looks relieved for the interruption.

A small body flings itself from the bushes, and into Cloud’s body.

“Marlene!” Cloud says, his voice holding the first bit of emotion.

Cloud puts a hand on her shoulder, watching her closely as she catches her breath.

“Cloud! Denzel...and Tifa!” Marlene shouts.

Cloud freezes.

“I wanna talk to her!”

Cloud still has not moved, and I watch him closely.

Marlene sighs, exasperated with how Cloud does not move.

The girl glances at me, “May I?”

It takes a moment for me to realize she wants to use my phone to call Tifa; I lift my cape, showing that I have no phone.

“You don’t have a phone?” she exclaims.

Cloud swallows, finally shifting slightly, “Vincent...” his voice is quiet, “Will you take Marlene back to the bar? I need...to see Rufus–

“I can’t do that Cloud,” I shake my head; what has happened?

Cloud’s eyes search before him, as if looking for something...or someone.

“Forget it Cloud!” Marlene answers for him, “Why don’t you ever pay any attention to us?!”

Cloud watches, slightly startled at her sudden outburst. Marlene rushes towards me, and opts to hide beneath my cape leaving a confused Cloud in her wake.

“Marlene, please,” Cloud starts, but doesn’t finish.

I watch him closely, “Cloud...what is this about?”

His eyes focus on the ground, and I see truly such a sadness in them...it almost seems familiar.

Ah ha ha...now I see what has happened...

Chaos?

What has the she said to you, boy? Stop running? She really wants you to help the children when you can’t even help yourself. Oh it is obvious this one does not wish to fight, not after what has happened.

That can't be it...Aeris’ death was nearly two years ago–

Who said anything about the flower girl? You are so slow it is unnerving, really.

I don't-

No...that can’t be right.

That can’t...

That doesn’t make any sense.

But it makes perfect sense! Oh this is grand... killing the woman. With her puppets, Jenova out does us all–

Stop!

“Cloud,” my voice is far harsher than I intended, but it catches his attention. “Where is Tifa, Cloud?”

His eyes run from mine again, before he softly speaks, “Marlene...I need...to take you back to the bar... let’s go.”

“Cloud–

But the girl is already running towards him, but this doesn’t make sense.

Cloud raises his eyes towards mine once, ashamed, hurt and broken–

I see the truth there, but...

No...no...she isn’t. She can't.

“Cloud...where is she?”

He will not answer, and I know the truth as he places a hand on Marlene’s back, leading her from the forest.

How can he tell her the truth?

How can he tell her that Tifa has died?

---

Do you remember that night, Cloud? When Jenova first made her appearance in our lives? When we both nearly died? That night…of course you would, it’s our defining moment that lays out the rest of our lives. You were still a boy, and I still a girl, and I look at you today, and I think…that you are still a boy, a child governed only by his heart, and you’re a guilty child, Cloud. You reap what you sew, and you suffer for all the guilt and pain you place on your shoulders. You shouldn’t have to, Cloud. Despite what you think, my death was not caused by you.

Aeris tells me that I should think of you as the past, and that we are the present. She says that the living are dead, and that the dead are truly living. In a funny way, it makes sense. The Promise Land is beautiful, only open to the Cetra, and some fortunate human souls, such as myself.

Aeris tells me that one day you will be joining us here. How can she speak of the future with you when you are the past? I don’t understand. In the Promise Land everything is clearer, more profound and beautiful, and yet my head feels muddled. Zack tells me it is because we are human, and that we shouldn’t be here really.

Still, Aeris will not tell me if you will arrive soon or not. She says it is best for me not to know. I can’t see how, really. I’d like to know. Still, the selfish part of me wants it to be soon, because I’m already tired of you being in the past Cloud, and me in the present. I want the future here now, but I know you are still needed, and more than for just the Geostigma crisis. What would poor Denzel do with out you and me? What would our remaining friends do?

Pathetic, aren’t we, Cloud?

You wish that you were dead, and I wish that I was alive.

…Hmm…the grass really is always greener on the other side.

A/N: Is sad...this story is so sad. It was really hard writing Vincent's POV, and even harder bending Cloud to the story line. Yes, I used dialogue from AC, but that dialogue is important. I hoped you liked it...and yes, it was Tifa in the first chappie. Thanks for the reviews loves!